Door latch unit



Dec. 2, 1958 D. s. HARRIS 2,862,378

DOOR LATCH UNIT Filed May l1, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

D. S. HARRIS DOOR LATCH UNIT Dec. 2,v 1958 Filed May ll, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Q una 7 www. f v3 v 0J s f a/.7 m 6 W H M.

IN V EN TOR.

Ms @Ya/M Dec. 2; 1958 D. s. HARRIS 2,862,378

' DOOR LATCH UNIT Filed May 11, 195e s sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent Doon LATCH UNIT Donald S. Harris, New Castle, Ind.,assignor to New ACastle Products, Inc., New Castle, Ind., a corporationof Indiana Application May 11, 1956, serial No. 584,353

12 claims. (ci. 70-95) The present invention relates generally to a newand improved latch unit having a latching member adapted forinterlocking cooperation with a catch, which unit is particularlyadapted for use with sliding or foldable doors of the type wherein thedoor jamb carrying the latch unit is moved into contact with a doorframe or jamb carrying a catch for locking cooperation with the latchingunit. More specifically, the present invention is directed to animproved latching unit having a latching member adapted for lockingengagement with a catch upon forcible engagement between the same, thelatch ing member being further adapted upon adjustment of the elementsassociated therewith for forcible disengagement from the catch.

It is an object of the present invention to provide av -latch unit foruse with doors, such as sliding or foldable doors, which unit is placedinto locking engagement with a catch solely by forcible abutment betweenthe same, and which unit includes adjustable means allowing the same tobecome forcibly disengaged from the catch when desired.

Another object is to provide a latch unit including a latching memberand associated elements cooperating with the latching member to allowthe same t-o become forcibly engaged with a catch and preventingdisengagement, forcible or otherwise, of the same without positiveoperation of an operating knob associated with the latch unit, certainassociated elements controlling the functioning of the operating knob toallow fixed positioning of the same permitting forcible engagement anddisengagement between the latching member and catch at all times, theforce necessary to automatically engage or disengage the latching memberwith respect to a catch being capable of regulation by adjustable meanscarried by the unit.

A further object is `to provide a latch unit having a latching membermounted for pivotal action with respect to spaced pivot points, thepivotal action about one of the points being limited by means associatedwith the latching member and movable into and out of associationtherewith by positioning means included in the unit, the positioningmeans being capable of adjustment to a1- low knob operation to move thelimiting means into and out of operative association with the latchingmember in such a manner that the latching member isV forciblydisengageable from a catch either at all times or only upon operation ofthe knob.

Still a further object is to provide a latch unit capable of carryingout the aforementioned objects and which further, upon mounting in adoor handle unit, is adapted for association with different forms ofkey-operated locks thereby allowing the latch unit to be utilized withdifferent forms of door handle units.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description made in conjunction with the drawingswherein:v Fig. 1 is an elevation of an installed accordion-type foldabledoor assembly illustrating one form of door with 2,862,378 Patented Dec.2, 1.958

which the latch unit of the present invention is partcu larly adaptedfor use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section of the interconnected handleunits of the door of Fig. l being taken generally along line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Figs. 3-6 are enlarged side elevational views of the elements of thelatch unit of the present invention `illustrating their operativerelation and the functioning of the same; r Y

Fig. 7 is a plan view in horizontal section of the door jamb and doorhandle carrying the latch unit and illustrating the elements associatedtherewith for operating the latch unit as well as one form of lockingthe same, the view still further illustrating the mounting of a sealingstrip along an edge of the door jamb;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation partly sectioned illustrating themounting of a sealing strip along the vertical surface of the door jamb`shown Fig. 7 Aand further illustrating a modified form of latchvlocking arrangement;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the latch unit taken generally alongline 9 9 of Fig. 3;. Y Y

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary. sectional view of a portion of the latch unittaken generally along line 10-10 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of a slidable plate forming a part of the latchunit; and j t Fig. 12 is a perspective of the latching member of thelatch unit.

In Fig. 1 a known type of foldable accordion-pleated door formedfromrelatively movable sections 15 and 16 is shown. Each of the,sections v.15 and 16 ismovable toward and awayfrom one anotheronrsuitable tracks carried by the top cross member of a door frame 17'dening an opening in a wall 18. Each of the door members 15 and 16 isformed Vfrom foldable material `vdelining panels 19 which fold upon oneanother whenthe door' sections 15 and 16 are moved awayl fromoneanotherin opening the same.` `The abutting edges of the dooi portions 15 and 16are provided with door jambs 20 and 21 respectively. The door jamb 20carries a door handle 22 for grasping and moving the door section V15toward or away from the door section 16 and the door jamb 21 carries adoor handle 23 for a similar purpose, the handle 23 carrying the latchunit of the present invention. The handle 23 externally carries Va latchunit operating knob 24 which controls the operation of theI latch unitin a manner to be described. v

In Fig. 2 the door sections 15 and 16 are illustrated in their closedand interlocked position. Thedoor jamby 20 is formed from a hollow metalpost 2.5 which' has received about its outer surface a decorativecovering 26 of cloth or 'plastic material. Each side of the post 25carries a door handle 22, one of which is provided with integralvertically spaced handle fastening rods 27, lone of which is shown,which extend through the interior ofthe post 25 and into alignedapertures in the oppositely carried door handle 22. The end of the rod27 received in the opposite door handle 22 is retained therein by aclamping screw 28 cooperating with a grooved portion 29 n ear the end ofthe rod 27.` The outermost end surface of the post 25 facing the doorjamb 21 carries a'channel member 30, the outer surface of which is bowedinwardly to form a vertically extending continuous groove 31. The groove31`is transversely slotted, as indicated by the numeral 32, to receivetherethrough a horizontally extending U-shaped catch or keeper 33carried by a vertically extending plate 34 suitably attached to the post25 as shown in Fig. 8.

The door jamb 21 is similarly formed from a vertically extending hollowpost 35 which is externallycovered by fabric material 36. Oppositeendwalls of the post 35 are provided with aligned -apertures 37 and thepost 35 receives therethrough a latch unit 38 which forms the es-A senceofthe present invention. One of the handles 23 is provided` withintegral vertically spaced`v rods 39, one ofwhich is shown, whichextends through aligned apertures in the post 35A and latch unit 3gintothe interior ofthe oppositely'positioned handle 23'u and.areYretained!therein.Yv

byr Clamping. screws. 40. reaevad Within. srQQve-lik prtions 41-i n therodsz 591near theendsthereof, `The rods .3g-function to fastentheoppositely positioned'handles and the latchunit 38 with respect tothepost 35.

` Near. the upper Portions. of. the handles 23.. and. latchisaatsidedpinzshown in Fig. 7. An end of the pin 42 is received within akey operated lock unit 43 siritably. carriedwithinpone. of the handles273 and having akey-r'eeeivipgface .44 flushzwiththe outer surface ofthe1"v1an;d l e I 2i3. The :center p ortion of the Pin 42 extendsthrough)the jlatelgtV unitA inI a manner to be described andthe:rertiainuing.A end is receiyed within an aperture 45 positioned'centrally withinasocliet 46 rotatably carried in the oppositelypositioned; llandleV 2,3, The outermost end of thesooket 46is providedwith an-integral outwardly dirooted stud-4f 7.rwhich is received WithinYan aperture in the logobhzg; the .knob being retained thereto by aclamping screw 48. v Y

Referrin'gto Figs. 27 and 8, theoutermost face of the post 35 carries asealing strip mounting member 49 which isn provided; with, outwardly andinwardly directed side wal e efming oppositely positioned groovesSil-.Which have; received vtherein ,radially projectingflanges 51 formedintegral with a D-sec'tion sealing strip 52of flexible rubber or plasticmaterial. The sealing strip 52 is formed from' an outwardly bowedU-shaped portion 53 integral witha substantially flat-bottom crossmember 5.4, the edge margins of which dene theradially directedsideanges 51A. WThe bottom. cross member 54, including the side anges511 is heldby the mountingplate 49 so that the ee'ntral sectionthereofisbowed outwardly thereby placing the` s'arnerundercompression andutilizing the inherent Islieuyof.thematerial.to urge the side flanges 51into theV interionof-grooves 50. Upon the bringing of the doonsectionsand316 into lclosed relation, the sealing bead'delned by the U-shapedsection 53(v is received in the groove 31 ofthe-cooperating sealingplate 30 carried by thehpost This narrangement provides complete sealingbetween the(V door sections 15 and 16 when the same are broughtlintoclosed relation.

Thef elements forming the latch unit 38 will -now be de scribenfhinI`connection with Fig. 3 with reference being madetosome additionalwiewswhich better illustrate somepofgtheparts. The. latch unit 38,is formedfrom a housing 55 of at rectangularshapeas particularly shown in Fig. 9,the front wall of which is provided with oppositely directed, top andbottom edge extensions or anges 56 which are suitably carried by thepost 35 as shown in Fig. 8. The side walls of the housing 55 areprovided with apertures 57 which are adapted to receive therethrough thepositioning rods 39 previously describedin connection lwith Fig. A2.Below the top aperturev 57 are aligned lapertures in the opposed sidewalls of the housingSS which cooperatively carry the body portion o fiacam 58- which is provided with a centrally located at-sided yaperture 59of square outline adapted to receiver, therethrough the at-sided pin 42operated by the knob 24; as shown in Fig. 7. The cam 58 is provided with'an outwardly directed camming iinger 60 positioned withinasubstantially V-shaped groove 61 which is formed by a.stampedtprojection 62 tapered toward one of its endsand integrallyformed in a movable locking plate 63, the structural details of whichare particularly shown in Fig.l 1l.

The .plate 63 is provided centrally thereof with verticallyspaced-elongated apertures 64 which, as shown in Figs. 3-an d,. 9ghavemounted therein spaced pins 65 and 66,-* eachuofV which is provided witha central annular groove defined byV circumferentially continuousupstand ing, spaced-fend-anges 67:.. The pins 65;' and 66vv are fas-.

tened to a side wall of the housing 55 by rivets 63 as shown in Fig. 9.The diameters ofthe flanges 67 in abutment with the inner surface of thewall of the housing carry- 'ing the pins are slightly less than thewidth of the slots 64 so as to be received in the same andlallow theplate 63 to slide vertically relative to the side wall within thehousing 55.

A side margin of the plate 63 integrally carries a right angle flange 69directed outwardly therefrom which deiines an abutment stop means for apurpose to be described. Below the lowermost slot 6 4 the plate 63 isprovided with spaced arcuate protrusions 70 which dene with anintermediate ilat neck a spring arm retaining portion. The lowermostmargin of the plate 63 is provided with an integral downwardly extendingflange arm 71 which extends outwardly of the bottom of the housing 55through an opening therein as shown in Fig. 3.

Asrshown in Figs. 3 and9, aspring arm 72 of a toggle spring 73 isreceivedvwithin the spring,v retaining portion:

of the plate 63 defined by the protrusions 70 and intermediate flatneck. Ther remaining spring arm 74 of the toggle spring 73 is free oftheplate 673 and its endmost portion extends outwardly through the rearWall of theY housing/55,fory positioningl within a rslot 75 of inverted1-shape., In Figs.v9,andV l0 the slot 75 is shown as being provided witha vertical leg 76 and a horizontal leg 77 extending at right angles totheA top portion. of the vertiealleg 76. Thetoggle spring 73.is allowedto rotate about., the longitudinal axis of its spring arm '72 relativeto the. plate 63.byv reason ofthe spring arm 72 being' looselyreceivedwi'thin the protrusions 70 for a purpose to befdescribed,

Intermediatethe pins. 65 and 66 and in association with the peripheralgrooves of the same, defined by thespaced flangesj is. positioned aboltvor latch member 78. As

particularly shown in Fig. l2,they latchmember 7S-has afbody. portion ofsubstantial size, provided with. oppositely directed projections 79 and80. The uppermost projection 79.denes with the bodylportionkof the latchmember 78v an arcuate shoulder S1 which is receiveddn the groove. in theuppermostpin65-towardjthe rear face of the` same-and retained thereinbythe flanges 67.v The lowermost projection 80 denes ,Withthebodyportion of the- .-llatehV member 78 an arcuatel shoulder 82f which isirfyd; abQut; th@ IQWermOSt pin. 66 Within the. groove. carriedptherebyaboutvthexfront portion thereof and beingY retainc iherin by theflanges@- The mcumingof the.

particularly; shcwnin Figs-.3:6 and. in the. functioning.rilhe'latchmemben the .pins 65am. adene pivotI pointslabout whichV thelatchnternber 78. is` allowedto pivot., Integral with the body portionof the latch lmeluber 7&is` a .forwardly directed latehing portion Stermi, natingfinV .adiutegraldownwardly directed 4:finger or. hook.8.4,. They OutermOSt orfront surfaceSSof th.e..hool ;84.,isv curved.`.inwardly in.. a, downwardly directionwhile the;

rearmost. surface. 3,6. of..-the.hook eissubstantially flatina-.vertical plane. The front. face: or foremost surface ofthebodylportion `ofthelatch member 78v .below the latch.

iugpolntion 83;- is provided with aforwardly directed nu'o 'orabutmentnser. 8:7; whichis adapted for abutment providedwithcentrallypositioned outwardly opening lil-shaped@- grooves defined:v by. arcuatebosses. 9.1;: which TheY outer top and bottom surfaces'ofthe bolt guide38 are' confine thereinthe ends of the gasketing strips 52 as shown inFig. 8.

The latch member 78 is urged into engagement with the spaced pins 65 and66 by aninverted U-shaped spring 92 having one end thereof fixedlyreceived within a spring retaining hole 93 (see Fig. 12) carried by thebottom projection 80 of the body portion of the latch member 78. Theremaining end of the spring 92 is carried near the end of an adjustmentscrew 94 between a nut 95 threadedly received on the screw 94 and acut-out fiange portion 96 integral with a side wall of the housing 55and bent at right angles with respect thereto. The end of the screw 94is rotatably received within an aperture in the flange 96 and the nut 95is held against rotation relative to the screw 94 by fiat-sided contactwith the inner surfaces of the spaced side walls of the housing 55. Thisarrangement is particularly shown in Fig. 2 and it will be noted thatthe head of the screw 94 is accessible through the vertical slot 89 inthe bolt guide 88. As a result of this arrangement, the biasing strengthof the spring 92 as applied to the latch member 78 may be regulated byrotating the screw 94 and advancing the nut 95 toward or away from thehead of the same. The end of the spring 92 carried by the screw 94 isloosely received thereabout having its end bent in the Yform of an eyesurrounding the screw 94 and the resiliency of the spring 92 isVsufficient to maintain this end of the same in contact with the nut 95.Consequently, upon advancing the nut 95 toward the head of the screw 94by rotat-Y ing the same, the end of the spring carried by the screw 94will follow the nut and the biasing strength of the same acting upon thelatch member 78 will decrease. Similarly, movement of the nut 95 awayfrom the head ofthe screw 94 will increase the biasing strength of thespring 92;

The action of the spring 92 on the latch member 78 by reason of theattachment of one of its ends adjacent the lowermost portion of the bodyportion of the latch member 78 urges the latch member in acounterclockwise direction thereby urging the arcuate shoulders 81 `and82 into contact with the surfaces ofthe'grooves between the flanges 67of the pins 65 and 66. The resilient urging of the latch member 78 intothe position described maintains the finger 84 in its lowermost positionwithin the vertical groove 89 of the bolt guide 88.

As shown in Figs. 3, 9 and l0, the spring arm 74 of the toggle spring 73is .held by the bottom edge of the vertical leg 76 of the invertedL-shaped slot 75 and in this position the arm 74 is spaced away from andbelow the arm 72a substantial distance. The toggle spring 73 resilientlyholds the plate 63 in its uppermost position and the bottom edges of thegrooves 64 abut the bottom edges of the fianges 67 as .shown in Fig. 9.The flange 71 is in`its raised position in close association with thebottom wall of the housing 55.

In forcibly engaging the hook 84 with the catch 33, the front outer edgesurface of the catch 33 is forced against the outer curved surface 85and due to the curvature of the surface 85 the latch member 78 is forcedupwardly about the bottom pivotV point defined by the pinL 66. Theupward movement of the latch member 78 is illustrated in Fig. 3 by thebroken line 97 and' it will be noted that during the clockwise .pivotalmovement of the latch member 78 the spring 92 is compressed and the topprojection 79 moves away from association with the center groove of thetop pin 65. Regardless of the positioning of the Varm 74 of the togglespring 73, the raising of the finger 84-and clockwise pivotal 'movementof the latch member 78 about the pin 66 will always occur in responsetothe force coupling of the latch 33. Consequently, the door sectionsand 16 may always bev interlocked and the positioning of the arm 74 ofthe toggle spring 73'controls the manner in which the same becomes lunlocked or unlatched for relative movementaway from one another.; Asshownin Fig. V3, theabutrnent fiange V69 carried bythe plate 63 does notinterfere with clockwise pivotal movement of the latch member 78 aboutthe pin 66 as the abutment finger 87 of the latch member 78 moves in aclockwise direction upwardly and ultimately away from the inner'surfaceof the abutment flange 69.

In Fig. 5 the functioning of the latch unit 38 to disengage the finger84 from the Vcatch 33 is shown. In order to bring this about it isnecessary to move' the plate 63 downwardly against the biasing action ofthe toggle spring 73 by turning the knob 24 and rotating the cam 58 andcam finger in a clockwise direction as viewed. The camming nger contactsthe inner surface of the camming groove 61 and the plate 63 is moveddownwardly against the biasing action of the toggle spring 73 to an eX-tent that the upper edges of the grooves 64 abut the upper portions ofthe fianges 67 of the pins 65 and 66.A With downward movement of theplate 63 the abutment flange 69 is moved downwardly out of abuttingrelation with the abutment finger 87 and the application of'a forcemoving the door jambs 20 and 21 away from one another will cause theinner surface of the catch 33 to move outwardly against the innersurface 86 of the finger 84 and force the finger and associated latchingportion 83 to move upwardly as illustrated. The application of forceagainst the inner vertical surface 86 of the finger 84 in a directionaway from the housing 55 acts against the biasing action of the spring92 to move the lower projection 80 out of contact with the bottom pin 66and cause the top curved shoulder 81 to pivot about the top pin 65. Theabutment finger 87 moves forwardly and upwardly in a clockwise directionwith respect to the pin and with the abutment flange 69 moved out ofinterfering contact therewith, disengagement of the catch 33 and finger84 is allowed.

Due to the positioning of thev spring arm 74 a substantial distancebelow the arm 72, these arms will not come into or pass beyond deadcenter relation relative to one another upon the movement of the plate63 in a downward position to an extent that the catch 33 may be forciblydisengaged from the latch member 78. In order to allow forcibledisengagement of these elements it is necessary to operate the knob 24against the biasing action of the toggle spring 73 and this spring willcontinuously urge the plate 63 and associated knob 24 back into theiroriginal positions. Consequently, upon the relieving of a twisting forceapplied to the knob 24 to allow forcible disengagement of the catch 33and latch member 78, the biasing action of the toggle spring 73 willreturn the associated elements back into their original position and theabutment fiange 69 will return into operative interference with theabutment finger'87. With the abutment flange 69 associated with theabutment finger 87 as shown in Fig. 3 the catch 33 may not be forciblydisengaged from the finger 84 as the application of force necessary toraise the latch member 78 to the position shown in Fig. 5 causes theabutment finger 87 to move toward the abutment flange 69 and uponabutting contact between these elements the latch member 78 isnotallowed to move in a clockwise direction about the upper pivot pointdefined by the pin 65. The finger 84 is thereby prevented from beingraised to an extent that the catch 33 may be moved out of engagementtherewith.

The location of the pins 65 and 66 determine the force required torotate the latch member 78 about either pin. The finger 84 ispositionedrelative to the pins 65 and 66 to cause the creation of a moment offorce which moves the finger and body portion of the latch member 78about a pivot point in the same direction of rotation when the catch.33is moved forcibly relative to the finger 84 during engagement ordisengagement of the finger 84 with the catch 33. The location of thepivot points defined by the pins 65 and 66 control the force required toproduce the rotational movement of the latch member 78.

. In Figs. 4 and 6 a different type of functioning of the latch member78 is illustrated. The adjustment necessar-y to bringabout thisdiierenttype ofloperation resides.-

inthe moving of thespring arm174 of .the-toggle springV 73" upwardlyinto resting position within` the: horizontal leg.77L ofthe groove 75 asindicated by the-referenceV nu-v meral 98.in Fig. 10. As illustratedin'Fig. 4, the retaining of the` spring arm 747m the horizontal leg. 77of the groove 75 brings the same into closer association with the armA72.so that, upon downward movement of the plate 63 by the operation ofthe knob 24,and camming finger 60, the arm 72 moves into and beyonddeadcenter relation with the arm 74 and ultimately into the position shown'`in Fig..6. Thismovement reverses the biasing action of the toggle spring73 so that4 instead of biasing the plate 63 in an upwardly direction,the plate is held in its lowermost position. Consequently, the abutmentflange 69 is permanently held out of operative association with theabutment nger 87 and the catch 33 and finger 84 may be forciblydisengaged as. previously described in connection with Fig. without thenecessity of forcibly holding the knob 24 to continuously overcome thebiasing action of the toggle spring to an extent that the abutmentflange 69 is held out of `operative association with the abutment finger87;

As shown in Fig. 4, forcible engagement between the catch 33 and latch78 is broughtabout in exactly the same manner as previously described inconnection with Fig. 3. The outermost edge of the catch 33 cams thelatch member 78 to pivot about the lower pin 66 and move away from theupper pin 65 against the biasing action of the spring 92. Theapplication of a twistingforce to the knob 24 will move the cam finger.60 downwardly against the inner surface of the cammingV groove 61 andmove theVV plate 63l downwardly to au extent that the spring arm 72moves below dead center relation to the spring arm 74 and the 'biasingaction of the toggle spring 73 is reversed. This reversal causesthe-plate 63 to be held-in its lowermost position and as shown in Fig.6. The application of force moving the catch 33 away from the finger 84will cause the latch member 78 to pivot about the upper pin 65 and move`out of contact with the lower pin 66. Thus the catch 33 and finger 84may be forcibly disengaged.

The fixed positioning of the plate 63 by the toggle spring 73, as shownin Fig. 6, 4allows the catch 33 and finger 84 to Ibecome forciblyengaged'and disengaged without the necessity of operating the knob 24.Consequently, it is necessary merely to apply oppositely directed forcesto the handles 22 and 23 to latch and unlatch the door sections and 16and move the same relative to one another.

As shown in Fig. 7, the latch unit 38 may be locked against operationwith respect to disengagement between the catch 33 and finger 84 by useof a known type of key-operated lock 43. However, it should beunderstood that in order to-lock the latch unit 38 to prevent unlatchingof the door sections 15 and 16-1it is necessary to have the spring arm74 positioned as shown in Fig. 3 or have it related with yrespect to thespring arm 72 as shown in Fig. 4. In other words, the locking of theflat-sided pin 42. against rotation by the knob 24 will not preventdisengagement between the catch 33 and hook 34 when the arms 72 and 74of the toggle spring 73 are related to one another as shown in Fig. 6.The positioning of the elements as shown in Fig. 6 allows forcibleengagement and disengagement of the catch 33 ,and hook 84 at all timesand the locking of the flat-sided pin 42 against rotation will notaffect the operation of the latch unit 38 except to prevent discontinuedfunctioning in this manner lby inadvertent turning of the knob 24 tomove the arm 74 into the position shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 8, an additional type of locking action may be reliedupon which utilizes a key-operated lock 99 carried by. a handle 23Ibelow the latch unit 38 and controlling the movement of a locking armitl@ positioned withinv the post and capable of being moved into and outof` abutting relation with: the-bottom 'ange 71 carried by the plate 63.As showntin-,Fig` 31,.the: lock 99 has been operated to movel the.;locking. linger im? into abutting relation with the iiange 71 and inythe event that the knob.24 is turned in an effort: to move the plate. 63downwardly to allow. the catch 33;' to be forcibly disengaged from thehookl 84, the flange 71 willi abut the finger 100 and prevent. downwardmovement of the plate 63. Consequently, forcible disengagementl betweenthe catch 33 and hook 84.may not be obtained and unless 'the lock 99 isoperated to move the fingerltr@ out of abutting relation with the flange71 as shownl in Fig. 5, the latch unit 38 may not Ibe operated to allow4forcible disengagement between the catch 33 and hook: 34. Thisparticular locking yarrangement operates inv exactly the same manner inconnection with the positioning of the spring arm.74. of the togglespring 73 as illustrated and described in connection with Pigs. 4.and'6. Regardless of the adjustment made to thelatch unit .38, it isnecessary to move .the plate 63 in a downward;

direction to allow the catch 33 to become forcibly disengaged from thehook 84. Therefore, as long as the flange 71 is locked against downwardmovement it is impossible to move the abutment ange 69 out of abuttingrelation with the abutment linger 87 to allow the latchy member 78 to bepivoted about the uppermost pin 65.

From the foregoing description it is readily apparent that the latchunit 38 of the present invention is adapted for different uses. Thelatch unit 38 used with a door may be adjusted to allow the door tobecome engaged with a catch or disengaged therefrom merely by theapplication of force. Such a situation would utilize the latch unit 38in the form as shown in Fig. 6. In the, event that knob operation foropening the same is desired, the 4arrangement of Figs. 3 and 5 may bereadily.

utilized. While the use of a single knob 24 has been illustrated, itshould 'be understood that a knob can beplaced in operative contact withboth ends of the atsided pin 42 to allow the latch unit 38 to beoperatedl from both sides of the door. Still further, in the event thata key-operated locking arrangement is desired, dif-v ferent arrangementsmay bey appliedto `the latch unit 38 as described in connection withFigs. 3, 5 and 7. With respect to the key-operated lock 43 of Fig 7, itshould be further apparent that the turning of the key within the lock43 will operate the knob 24 thereby allowing operation of the latch unit38 from either side of the door.

Due to the adaptability of the latch unit 38 and the different modes ofoperation which may bel utilizedin connection with the same, the unit isreadily adapted for use with both interior doors and outside doors. Theend of the spring arm 74 protruding from the rear wall of the housing 55may be made accessible through the exterior of the door section withwhich it is associated' in the event that the operation of theA latchunit 38 is desired to be converted duringthe use of the same. However,upon installation of the latch unit 38, adjustment of the same may 4bemade to fit the needs of the purchaser and, in the event that the latchunit is permanently used with the arm 74 in one position only, nounusable parts are *by necessity installed-creating anv unnecessary costto the purchaser. This advantage` arises from the fact that the arm 74is a necessary element regardless ofA the manner in which the latchvunit 38 is used.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention ashereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed asare indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. door latch unit having a pivotally mountedA latchingV member, saidlatching member includingl a body Aportion and a latching finger, saidbody portionv beingspringv urged intoV abutment with spaced Vmembersdefining pivot points about whichsaid latching member is adapted topivot, a latching member abutment means movably associated with saidbody portion to limit pivotal movement of said latching member about oneof said spaced members, and spring means associated with said latchingmember abutment means for biasing said abutment means into and out oflimiting association with said latching member.

2.A latch unit including a latching member mounted Afor pivotalmovementabout spaced pivot points, which 3. A latch unit including alatching member mounted for pivotal movement about spaced pivot points,which pivotal movement about any one of said points causes said latchingmember to move out of contact with the other of said points, saidlatching member including a latching hook adapted to be received over aportion of a catch brought into association therewith, said hook beingrelated to said pivot points to allow engagement with and disengagementfrom a catch when said unit is forcibly moved relative thereto, theforemost face of said hook being curved inwardly in a downwardlydirection to provide upward movement of said latching member about oneof its pivot points in response to force coupling of a catch therewith,and stop means movable into and out of pivotal movement limitingrelation with said latching member to restrict forcible disengagementbetween said hook and a catch while allowing forcible engagement betweenthe same.

4. A latch unit including a latching member mounted for pivotal movementabout spaced pivot points, which pivotal movement about any one of saidpoints causes said latching member to move out of contact with thebeing-curved inwardly in a downwardly direction to provide upwardmovement of said latching member about one of its pivot points inresponse to force coupling of a catch therewith, and stop means movableinto and out of :pivotal movementv limiting relation with said latchingmember to. restrictforcible disengagement between said hook and a catchwhile allowing forcible engagement -between the same, said stop meansbeing movable in conjunction with a toggle spring having a rst armoperatively associated therewith and a second arm adapted forpositioning in xed biasing relation with said lirst arm and saidstopmeans to continuously urge said stop means intooperative relation withsaid latching member and for positioning relative to said first arm toallow the same to move in opposite directions past vdead center relationwith said second arm to allow movement of said stop means into and outof operative relation with said latching member.

6. A latch unit comprising a housing, a latch member formed from a bodyportion within said housing integral withta'latching portion extendingoutwardly of said housing; said body portion beingtmounted betweenspaced pins and having substantially hook-like projectionspartiallytsurrounding said pins and normally in engagement with the sameto allow said latch member to pivot about each of said pins, springmeans in said housing attached to said latch member to bias the bodyportion of the same into engagement with said pins, a movable platecarried by said pins and having mounted thereon an arm of a togglespring, the other arm of said toggle spring carried within a slot insaid housing and having its free end extending outwardly of saidhousing, said plate being further provided with means associated with anexternally positioned operating handle for moving said plate relative tosaid latch member, -and an abutment means carried by said plate formovement thereby into and out of pivotal limiting association with saidlatch member, the positioning of the other arm of said toggle spring insaid slot controlling the action of the same with respect to said platein biasing said abutment means into and out of pivotal limitingassociation with said latch member.

7. The unit of claim 6 wherein the slot in the housing carrying theother arm of the toggle spring is provided other of said points, saidlatching member including a latching hook adapted to be received over aportion of a catch brought into association therewith, said hook beingrelated to said pivot points -to allow engagement with and disengagementfrom a catch when said unit is forcibly moved relative thereto, and stopmeans movable into and out of pivotal movement limiting relation withsaid latching member to restrict forcible disengagement between saidhook and a catch while allowing forcible engagement between the same,said stop means being movable in conjunction with a toggle spring havinga first arm operatively associated therewith and a second arm adaptedfor positioning in xed biasing relation with said lirst arm and saidstop means to continuously urge said stop means into operative relationwith said latching member and for positioning relative to said rst armto allow the same to move in opposite directions past dead centerrelation with said second arm to allow movement of said stop means intoand out of operative relation with said latching member.

5. A latch unit including a latching member mounted for pivotal movementabout spaced pivot points, which pivotal movement about any one of saidpoints causes said latching member to move out of contact with the otherof said points, said latching memberincluding a latching hook adapted tobe received over a portion of a catch brought into associationtherewith, said hook being related to said pivot points to allowengagement with and disengagement from a catch when said unit isforcibly moved relative thereto, the foremost face of said hook withspaced spring arm retaining surfaces, one of said surfaces positioningsaid other arm in biasing relation with the rst arm of said togglespring to continuously urge the plate and abutment means carried therebyinto pivotal limiting association with said latch member, the other ofsaid surfaces positioning said other arm to allow movement of said firstarm with said plate in directions opposite of dead center relationbetween said arms for positioning of said abutment means in and out ofpivotal limiting association with said latch member.

8. The unit of claim 6 wherein said hook-like projections extend aboveand below said body portion and partially surround vertically spacedpins to lallow clockwise pivotal movement of said latch member aboutonly one of said pins at any one time during the operation of said latchmember.

9. The unit of claim 6 wherein said spring means have a portion fixed tosaid latch member and a portion fixed to adjustable means carried bysaid housing to regulate the biasing strength of said spring means.

10. A door handle and latch unit including a housing carrying on anouter surface thereof a handle, a latch unit within said housing, saidlatch unit including a latch member formed from a body portion pivotallymounted between spaced pins and a latching portion extending outwardlyof said housing, a movable plate carried by said pins and having pivotallimiting means for movement into and out of pivotal limiting associationwith said latch member, a toggle spring associated with said plate topartially control the positioning thereof, operating means carried bysaid handle and connected to said plate to move the same, and anabutment means carried by said @Samara housingfprfmovenientzintorandomofmoyemenllimitine relation, withV said-f Plate;-

1 1d A1 door;v handle and latch .unit including a; housingl car-ryingiOrhan outer-1 surface thereof afhandleva-ylatchunit, Withinsaidghousing, said Alatch unit includingalatch memberA formed, from`abody 'portion piyotallyymounted; betweenV spaced 1 pins anda latchingportion extending: outwardly.l of saidE housing, a2 movable, plate;carried y by` saidgip'ins; andghaving pivotal-limiting means formovementl into andi-out of'pivotal limiting association with said latch:

member, mtoggle; springI associated with saidplate to partiallyk controlthe positioning thereofg operatingrmeans carried; by-saidfhandle andconnectedto said; plate; to: move the same, `and an abutment-meanscarried by said.

housing forymovementinto/and ,out of. movementlimitingvi relation; with.said plate,` said abutment, means includingf, an abutment .ngerpositioned Within said housing and operated by a lock member carried;by: said handle.A

12:,A door' latch; unit; havingpa pivotally; mounted latchingmemberincluding a hook and hook-carrying portion, said: hook-carrying; portionbeingl spring urged',`

into abutment withl spaced; members i dening .pivottp oints aboutf whichYsaid 2 latching.l member is` adapted'.` toi pivot,

1i2 s aidgihook beingsrelatednto;:thenivotpointsfso Athat either!engagement; 0r; disengagement; of; the: hook@ withl i a.- catch; moved;f orciblyf relativeihereto; results: in: a moment1 profV due-ing;mOi/ementof said; ook,andhook-carryingportion` aboutfapivotj pointintheVsamefdirection ofrotation',-v

eachof? said pivot' points; beingfpositioned relative; to, said-hooktocontrol the;r forcerequiredto produce'the: rotational; movement-5 and:hatching member rnovennmlt limiting means adjustably associated withsaid latching member` for movement` into and out; of abutting;l relationtherewith to control pivotal movement ofzsaidlatching. member Vduringthe operationgof said,l uni-t.

Referencesacitedcin the ile of thispatent'- r UNITED STATES PATENTSyGreat-Britain May l2,

